New Jersey Man Dies After Propane Tank Explodes at Home: 'I’m Going to Miss Him So Much,' Sister Says

Police said homeowner Kevin Thomas succumbed to his injuries following a house explosion in Stafford Township, New Jersey

A 45-year-old man has died after a propane tank exploded at his New Jersey home on Tuesday, authorities said.

In a news release, the Stafford Township Police Department said that authorities were summoned to a residence on Neptune Drive in the early morning following a report of an explosion that resulted in a structure fire.

“Responding Officers found a male victim on the front lawn of the residence, later identified as the homeowner, Kevin Thomas, 45, with serious burns to his upper torso,” read the department’s statement. “Mr. Thomas was airlifted to Temple Burn Center in Philadelphia, where he later succumbed to his injuries.”

Related: Firefighter's 3 Kids Who Died After Fire at Home Were 'Deeply Loved,' Says Grandmother: 'Gone Too Soon'

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

According to police, the “origin of the explosion was the southwest corner bedroom of the residence and that the cause of the explosion was the release of propane from a tank to an open flame.”

Mary Biniaminov, a neighbor, told News12 New Jersey that Thomas had knocked on her door asking for help, calling the incident "super scary."

Related: 5 Hospitalized After New Jersey House Explosion, Authorities Say

“The guy came banging on our door and I honestly didn’t even know what it was, and he was screaming for help," she added. "Five minutes later we saw cops, firetrucks, so we went outside, and we saw the house was up in flames.”

The situation prompted the evacuation of neighboring homes until the area was considered safe, per ABC affiliate WPVI-TV.

The house has been declared uninhabitable, and further details about the explosion are still being investigated, per the report.

Related: Injured Boy Has ‘Looked Around’ Hospital After Baby Sibling, Grandparents Die in S.D. Explosion, Says Mom

Linda Fiola Parillo, Thomas' sister, posted on Facebook that she needed to step away from social media while appreciating "the love and prayers" because his death was "hard for me right now."

"I’m so great full for the time I’ve had with my brother I have a million memories , and I’m going to miss him so much again Thank you ❤️ 🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏," she added.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.